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Bill

A 10445

Enacts the care workforce housing preference act

2025 Regular Session Introduced by John McDonald and 1 co-sponsor

The bill creates a care workforce housing lease preference in certain affordable rentals, using a lottery system with caps and outreach, while keeping income eligibility for all ap

REFERRED TO HOUSING
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · A 10445

Overview

A10445, the “Care Workforce Housing Preference Act,” would create a targeted housing preference for members of New York’s care workforce within certain affordable rental housing programs. The bill amends the private housing finance law to add a new section (47-f) detailing eligibility, administration, and implementation procedures for the preference.

Purpose and intent

  • Address housing affordability challenges faced by direct care, health, and human services workers (e.g., direct support professionals, CNAs, LPNs, RNs, behavioral health staff, and early intervention/special education therapists).
  • Improve recruitment and retention of the care workforce by prioritizing affordable housing opportunities for eligible workers, while preserving overall eligibility for all income-qualified applicants.

Key provisions

  • Scope of applicability (Section 47-f(1)):
    • Applies to low-income housing tax credit developments (9% and 4% credits), rental housing developments financed with agency bonds, and rental developments assisted with HUD HOME funds, provided the sponsor elects the preference.
  • Eligible households (Section 47-f(2)):
    • A household qualifies if at least one member is employed in a qualifying care occupation (listed examples include direct support professionals, CNAs, LPNs/RNs, behavioral health or human services staff, and certain therapists).
  • Method of application (Section 47-f(3)):
    • Preference determined via lottery weighting or tie-breaking procedures.
    • Not a set-aside; income-eligible applicants remain eligible regardless of employment status.
  • Preference window and cap (Section 47-f(4)):
    • Preference available during the first 60 days of each marketing/lease-up cycle.
    • Applies until no more than 20% of restricted units are leased to eligible households (sponsor may elect 10% or 5% targets).
  • Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP) scoring (Section 47-f(5)):
    • Adds a new “care workforce housing” scoring category (up to 5 points).
    • Points awarded based on the percent of units subject to the preference (5 points at 20%, 3 points at 10%, 1 point at 5%), plus an accompanying care workforce marketing plan.
    • May be recognized as a state-designated priority eligible for a basis boost where needed.
  • Marketing and outreach plan (Section 47-f(6)):
    • Requirements include partnerships with provider agencies/unions/hospitals, multilingual materials, evening/weekend assistance, voucher-neutral screening, weekly tracking of applications, and annual reporting.
  • Effectiveness and regulations (Section 47-f(7)):
    • Takes effect on the first calendar quarter after enactment.
    • DHCR (the agency) authorized to promulgate necessary rules and regulations.

Who is affected

  • Developer sponsors of certain affordable rental housing projects (LIHTC, agency-backed bonds, and HUD HOME-assisted developments) can elect to implement the care workforce preference.
  • Eligible care workers and their households stand to receive prioritized consideration in the leasing process during the initial marketing period.
  • The New York Division of Housing and Community Renewal would administer the preference, update the QAP, and issue regulations.

Timeline and procedural notes

  • Effective date: immediately upon enactment for regulatory implementation, with the preference applying starting in the first calendar quarter after the law becomes effective.
  • Annual marketing window: 60-day initial leasing period per project cycle, with ongoing cap based on unit targets (20%, or 10%/5% if elected by the sponsor).

Summary

A10445 seeks to strengthen housing access for frontline care workers by layering a targeted leasing preference into major affordable housing programs, guided by a lottery-based selection, an explicit cap, QAP scoring incentives, and robust marketing/outreach requirements. The measure aims to balance equity for care workers with the broader eligibility framework for income-qualified applicants.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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